Monitoring and updating

The impacts of the measures included in the equality plan must be monitored regularly. The plan's implementation should be monitored continuously, not only in connection with updates.  

Continuous monitoring makes it possible to 

• identify and address any problems that arise during implementation 
• obtain information about the effectiveness of the measures 
• discuss any difficulties related to implementation with the personnel. 

Continuous monitoring ensures that the plan supports practical work and contributes to the organisation’s goal of an equal operating culture. 

Planning the effectiveness assessment 

Record the schedule and responsibilities for the effectiveness assessment in the plan. Monitoring also provides more extensive information about the state of equality in the organisation, which in turn enables potential problems to be addressed at an early stage. 

Monitoring information is obtained from largely the same sources used when assessing the initial situation. When assessing the effectiveness of the plan, attention should be paid to follow-up surveys and feedback. The assessment should also consider whether sufficiently comprehensive information about the implementation of equality has been obtained from the sources of information used, or whether new ways of collecting information should be developed. 

The leadership's commitment throughout the equality plan's validity is important in terms of the plan's effectiveness. The responsibility for monitoring can lie with the organisation’s leadership or with the group responsible for the plan's preparation, for example. It is recommended that the personnel participate in the monitoring, and that sufficient resources are reserved for the implementation of monitoring. 

Updates to the plan 

When updating the equality plan, it is a good idea to examine equality and non-discrimination work as a long-term continuum, one phase of which has been completed. The results of the assessment indicate whether there is a need to continue with the same themes or whether the focus should be shifted to other themes.  

It is also worth returning to the previous round, where the plans' measures were selected. For example, were any important measures omitted due to resource shortage or were some goals identified as long-term goals that will be continuously promoted?